I am thinking about buying a RV, Should I buy a 5th wheel or hitch type camper?
It will just be my wife and myself, will a 25' do or should it be bigger? This may involve some long term camping, 25' seems short to me. Please give me some pros and cons to help me make a decision. Thanks Eric

 

I have had pull types and fifth-wheels, I will never go back to a pull type

 

25' fifth wheel has quite a bit more room inside than a pull trailer of the same length. It's much shorter combined total length.The load balance is better and it's easier to pull around. The disadvantage is that most of your truck bed is used up when you tow.

Like Justcampin, I've had both and wouldn't go back to the pull type. Unless of course I wanted to haul a bike or ATV when I travelled. Even then, I think I'd look at a toy hauler 5er.

Dan

 

I specifically chose to tow with a receiver hitch because I wanted the option to tow with a suburban or van. With a 5er, you're locked into towing with a pickup or flatbed.

Your choice needs to reflect your planned use and purposes. You may need to rent one to try before making a decision.

 

I personally prefer 5th wheels because of how they handle, and I find mine easier to hitch by myself (since I can see the pin and hitch from the driver's seat).

How much space is enough is a personal choice. Some folks are perfectly happy with a pickup camper, but personally I like a bit more room.

My current 5th wheel toy hauler has about 20' living space, and I'm thinking of getting something a bit bigger. Mine has a sleeper dinette, but I'd like one with a sofa and recliner in addition to the dinette and bed. Pin weight wise, though, I'm probably going to have to get a dually.

Anyhow, I'd suggest going to one of the big RV shows with the wife. Take your digital camera, and start pictures of a unit you are interested in with a shot of the placard that shows what it is. Otherwise they will tend to run together.

Pay attention to the size and headroom of the shower. Also look at how the entertainment center is located relative to the seating. Pulling some drawers and looking at the construction under the counters can be a good gauge of quality. You will see stapled pressboard in the bottom ones, followed by particle board, and finally plywood in the nicer ones.

I'd also suggest buying used for your first one, unless you have money to burn. New RV's depreciate hugely, even when hardly used, and pretty much everyone I know learned from their first one what they really want...

 

Whatever you do, don't buy this model! This happened yesterday on I-75 a few minutes from where I used to live.



Back on subject, though... If you have the capability to pull a 5th wheel and always plan to have that capability... go with the 5th wheel. There is no comparison between the ease of pulling, stability, and safety of a 5th wheel versus a bumper pull.

 

Very good advise!! Can't beat the handling while towing. Easier to set up @ the campground BUT some CG's have restrictions for 5'vers & length.

 

We've met folks who full time in 25 footers and say "no problems", on the other hand we've found that to be too small for us even though we only stay in ours about 6 months at a time max.
Travel trailers usually have less wind resistance than a 5er since they're not as tall. Hitches are cheaper also. A 25' travel trailer has about 21' of inside living space, a 25' 5er usually has 25'-26' of space inside. A slideout will add considerably to the open feeling of either one. The 5er not only uses up most of the TV bed it also puts a lot of weight there [pin weight], usually 4 figures, a travel trailer usually is in the hundreds, [tongue weight]. As a note, if you start looking at larger trailers, be sure they have 16" wheels. We had a 32" with 15" wheels that blew 6 new tires in <18 months, the trailer was too heavy from the manufacturer for them.
Your best bet is to visit several RV lots and look. Putter around for awhile in the ones that interest you, ie., pretend you are actually living in them, making the bed, preparing a meal, watching TV, working a hobby, etc.
Rent a tag-a-long [travel trailer] for a couple of weeks, this should allow you to at least determine some of the things you like or dislike.

 

I like the Trailer versuse the fifth wheel and a 25 foot is verry manageble with our trucks. I store alot of extras in the bed of the truck when we go. I have a 23 foot Jayco verry nice and it is just my wife and me!!

 

You didn't say if you were buying new or used but don't overpay ! http://www.nadaguides.com/SectionHom...=25&p=0&f=5602 . Buying a new RV is like buying a new car . Never pay sticker price . Get an RV Trader paper at a C store or check it online for comparison pricing . http://ww2.rvtraderonline.com/

 

It would be a used one for sure. I am leaning towards the 5th wheel. I would like to bring my motorcycle with me and a toy box is out of the budget on this project. Is there any reason why I can't build a rack for the motorcycle on the back of the trailer? Thanks for all the info so far.

 

IMHO that depends on the motorcycle. If you are talking about a Trail 110 or something I think it would be fine. On the other hand I don't think I would attempt that with an 800 pound bike. The frame isn't designed for that kind of load, plus it may not have enough hitch weight to handle well with that much weight hanging off the back.

If you look around, there are some decent quality toy haulers around for reasonable prices. Otherwise carrying the motorcycle in the pickup and going with a tow trailer is always a possibility.

My GF's parents go south for the winter and take their ATV's. They run a 30' travel trailer and a monster hauler ATV rack, which works pretty well for them. They camp in the same spot for a couple of months, and that gives them the option to take the ATV's over to other riding areas w/o breaking down camp.

With my Toyhauler, I'd have to either take the 5er with me, or make pull the hitch and make two trips to ferry quads over... Loading my setup is also more difficult, since my large 4x4's won't fit side by side, and have to be turned sideways.

 

I expect this subject to turn nasty at anytime LoL. I am on my fifth trailer, the last three being Northwood mfg and purchased in Oregon (no tax). Just the wife and I. We started off too small, than went way to big and after much trial and error finally got the trailer we are going to keep (see signature). Queen size walk around bed upfront. Its always ready for a nap and if one of us is cooking or watching TV in the main area we don’t bug each other. Two motorcycles in the truck and we travel with others who are using fifth wheels and always wind up having to carry some of their stuff in our truck bed. Less wind resistance than them so getting better MPG. We are currently spending about 6 months (broken up) a year rock hunting and camping and are really happy with our “final” set up. With that said, I know others who wouldn’t trade in their 5th wheels for anything so lots of luck. If you are interested in Arctic Fox or Nash trailers (haven’t had one of their 5th wheels) PM me and I will let you know of the things I don’t like about them.

 

We've had 2 25' 5er and loved the ease of towing and getting into NF and other tight spots. We even took several very long vacations and did fine. But we got tired of not being able to relax very well in the evenings. Both ours had booth dinettes and jacknife sofas . Small is fine if you can find something with cushy, comfy accommodations. If the bike is very heavy, I think I'd rather tow an MC trailer than mount it on the 5er. Craig

 

I am thinking about the same thing myself. I have very experienced friends, and one of them laid out pros and cons for me:
1. Fifth wheel is much better behaved on the highway. Better control.
2. Travel trailer allows to use the truck leaving the trailer in the campground much easier that 5th wheel.
3. Hitch for 5th wheel costs quite a bit more.
4. Shortbed trucks may need a sliding hitch to tow a fifth wheel.
5. Weight distributing hitches improve road manners of tow trailers.
6. 5th wheels are roomier.
My personal conclusion was, I will go with a travel trailer for now. I want to find out how much my wife and I will use it, and I want to spend little money for this trial. If we use it a lot we may upgrade; if not, I am not out a lot of money. Travel trailer in 25-26 ft is what I think is optimal for me.
Also note that most trailers are not designed for non-paved roads. There are some exceptions, notably Northwoods (A-Foxes). That's what I am looking for.
-P